DAVID WISEMAN FROM CWMDU DIES DAYS BEFORE COURT HEARING OVER CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN SWANSEA, CARMARTHENSHIRE, AND GWYNEDD

In a tragic turn of events, David Wiseman, a convicted child sex offender residing in Cwmdu, was found dead at his home on St Helen’s Road in Swansea just one day before he was scheduled to appear in court to face a series of serious charges related to child sexual offences. The incident occurred on July 8, 2019, and the police were called to his residence at Homegower House following reports of his sudden death.

According to a spokesperson for South Wales Police, there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Wiseman’s death. The police confirmed that the case has been referred to the HM coroner for further investigation. Wiseman, aged 74 at the time of his death, was set to face a court hearing on a range of allegations that spanned several decades, with the earliest charges dating back to the late 1980s. These charges involved offences committed in Swansea, Carmarthenshire, and Gwynedd, all located within Wales.

The day prior to his scheduled court appearance, authorities had responded to reports on St Helen’s Road, where Wiseman’s residence was located. The police’s statement emphasized that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, and the case was being handled by the appropriate judicial authorities.

Wiseman’s criminal history was extensive. He had previously been convicted in 1987 for possessing indecent photographs. His legal troubles resurfaced in 2014 when he was brought before the courts again. During that trial, he was sentenced to four years in prison after two victims, who had come forward many years after the abuse, testified against him. The offences involved sexually abusing two boys, one of whom was under the age of 10 when the abuse began. Wiseman paid one of the victims £200 to allow him to take nude photographs of him, further illustrating the severity of his misconduct.

One of the victims, after years of suffering in silence, tracked Wiseman down while he was living on Middle Road in Cwmdu. In an attempt to force him to admit his crimes, the victim assaulted Wiseman, hoping that this would prompt him to come clean to the police. When Wiseman refused to confess, the victim assaulted him a second time. Both men later described how the abuse had devastated their lives, citing ongoing physical and psychological issues, as well as feelings of worthlessness and shame.

At the time of the original offences, the maximum penalty was only two years’ imprisonment for each offence. During the 2014 sentencing, Judge Paul Thomas acknowledged the profound impact Wiseman’s actions had on his victims. He stated that Wiseman had “ruined” the boys’ childhoods and emphasized that while the physical acts were wrong, the emotional aftermath was even more damaging. The judge remarked that the victims were left with a lifetime of shame, often believing the abuse was their fault.

In the week leading up to his death, Wiseman’s case was scheduled to be heard at Swansea Magistrates’ Court. Prosecutor Linda Baker informed the court that police had confirmed Wiseman’s passing, and as a result, the case would need to be withdrawn. Wiseman faced ten charges in total, including five counts of gross indecency with a boy under 14, four counts of indecent assault of a boy under 14, and one count of making indecent photographs of a child.

Reflecting on his past, Wiseman’s criminal record and the subsequent legal proceedings reveal a long history of disturbing offences. His death just before facing justice has left many questions unanswered, and the full circumstances of his passing remain under investigation. The community in Cwmdu and the wider region continues to grapple with the legacy of his crimes, which have left a lasting scar on his victims and their families.